Mandevilla plant named ‘Lankentucky’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Lankentucky’, characterized by its compact, upright and twining plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; relatively thick stems, leaves and flower petals; glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and bright red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla x amabilis X Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LANKENTUCKY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla x amabilis X Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Lankentucky’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Malause, France. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Mandevilla plants with good plant habit and numerous attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Malause, France in June, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla x amabilis identified as code number SI 08831-189, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Mandevilla hybrida ‘Lansouthcarolina’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,406, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Malause, France in July, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Malause, France, since September, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Lankentucky’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Lankentucky’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and twining plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Relatively thick stems, leaves and flower petals.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Bright red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact and have         shorter internodes than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely flowering and         flower more continuously than plants of the female parent         selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Lansouthcarolina’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘Lansouthcarolina’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Mandevilla are glabrous whereas         leaves of plants of ‘Lansouthcarolina’ are densely pubescent.     -   2. Petals of plants of the new Mandevilla are broader and more         rounded than petals of plants of ‘Lansouthcarolina’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Lansouthcarolina’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Lansouthcarolina’ have pink-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Fisrix Hopink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,672. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘Fisrix Hopink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more upright than and not as         spreading as plants of ‘Fisrix Hopink’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have thicker leaves and petals         than plants of ‘Fisrix Hopink’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Fisrix Hopink’.     -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Fisrix Hopink’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Fisrix Hopink’ have rose red to         cherry red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Lankentucky’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical open flower and flower bud of ‘Lankentucky’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late spring and early summer in 17-cm containers in polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Malause, France and under cultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. and night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 15° C. Plants were nine months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla x amabilis X Mandevilla hybrida     ‘Lankentucky’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             x amabilis identified as code number SI 08831-189, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Mandevilla hybrida             ‘Lansouthcarolina’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,406. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 18° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five weeks at             temperatures about 16° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About ten             weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About twelve             weeks at temperatures about 16° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; typically light yellowish             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and twining plant             habit; overall plant shape is broadly oblong; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 43.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 48.8             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 31.9 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about six primary lateral branches,             each with about twelve secondary lateral branches developing             per plant. Length: About 26.4 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Internode length: About 5.8 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, developing:             Close to 144A. Color, developed: Close to 199A and 199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 9.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to obovate and oblong.         -   Apex.—Short apiculate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire; coarsely undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker             than 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             between 144A and 146B. Full expanded leaves, upper surface:             Darker than between NN137A and 147A; venation, close to             144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper             surface: Close to 144A to 144B. Color, lower surface: Close             to 145B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in axillary cymes; flowers star-shaped and face             mostly upright and outwardly; freely flowering habit with             about eight flowers developing per inflorescence and about             10 open flowers and about 90 flower buds develop per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             spring into the autumn in France.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About 15 days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet and pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5.6 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 49A and 49B;             towards the base, close to 145B; stripes, close to 50C.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: About 8.2 cm. Depth (length): About             8.3 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.6 cm. Tube length: About             5.1 cm. Tube diameter, mid-section: Close to 5 mm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl and fused towards the base forming a             funnel-shaped tube. Petal length: About 8.9 cm. Petal width:             About 4.3 cm. Petal shape and appearance: Roughly spatulate;             lower 60% of the petal is fused into a tube. Petal apex:             Acute to rounded. Petal margin: Entire; slightly undulate.             Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Throat texture: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately velvety. Tube texture: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly velvety. Color: Petal, when opening,             upper surface: Close to N57B and N57C. Petal, when opening,             lower surface: Close to 67D and 62B. Petal, fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 58B; venation, close to 58B; color             does not change with development. Petal, fully opened, lower             surface: Close to between 61D and 58C; venation, close to             between 61D and 58C; color does not change with development.             Throat: Close to 50B; venation, close to 50B. Tube: Close to             145B; venation, close to 145B.         -   Corona.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl. Calyx length: About 7 mm. Calyx diameter:             About 5 mm. Sepal length: About 7 mm. Sepal width: About             1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly deltoid. Sepal apex: Narrowly             acute. Sepal base: Broadly cuneate. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Sepal texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Sepal color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 145B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 145A to 145B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 145A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 25° from vertical. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 40° from peduncle axis.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close             to 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 153C. Anther             shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 7 mm. Anther             diameter: About 1.25 mm. Anther color: Close to 160B. Pollen             amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: Typically one.             Pistil length: About 2.1 cm. Style length: About 1.85 cm.             Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 146C.             Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 13. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Lankentucky’ as illustrated and described. 